Improvement in supports and connections for portable telegraph apparatus



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V. H. De FORVILLE.

nu b a t r o P. rs ou #It a Sr n a .mp lp CA e nh np 0a Pur. Luw de nl anu TI S t r o n. ,p u S Patentd May I9, 1874.

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v. H. De FoevrLLE.

Supports and Con nections for Portable Telegraph Apparatus.

Patented May 19, 1874.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFIE.l

VALENTINE HAY DE FORVILLE, OF ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA.

IMPROVEMENT lN SUPPORTS AND CONNECTIONS FOR PORTABLE TELEGRAPH APPARATUS.

Spcciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 151,100, dated May 19, 1874; application filed February 24,1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, the Marquis VALENTINE HAY DE FORVILLE, of St. Petersburg, in the Empire of Russia,-have invented a new and useful device called a Commutator for making hydraulic connections or diverting the cir cuit on Telegraph-Lines,77 of which the following is a specification:

This invention is designed to provide ready means `for putting my portable electro-inagnetic instrument in communication with other telegraph-ofiices, either to the right or to the left, without cutting the wire or breaking the main line, thus dispensing with the necessity oi' having a special wire for railroad purposes,

Figure 1 represents a front view ofthe bracket, with the connection K in position to pass the current through the portable instrument, severing the main line. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of' the same, showing the right, left, and ground connections of the instrument. Fig. 3 shows a side View oi' the bracket, with the portable apparatus represented as applied by dotted outline preparatory to forming the circuit through it. Fig. 4 is a similar view with the parts in position, as when the main line is severed, and the electric current connected with the portable instrument.

The same letters appearing on the several figures indicate like parts.

This invention, while particularly adapted to and intended for use in connection with my portable ,telegraph -instru1nent, may be used in connection with any other instrument for the like purpose, and is designed to be placed in the watch-box or station-house of every keeper of a railroad-line; and it consists of a metal bracket to be fastened to one of the walls of the guard-house or other building, the horizontal extension l) forming foundation on which to make the connections, and to scat the portable instrument.

I will now describe t-he commutator by referrin g to the drawings, in which- S represents the vertical portion of the bracket, which is to be attached to the wall of the station or guard house by screws V or other suitable means. The horizontal extension P and side plates or cheeks D are all formed in one piece with the casting S. This bracket S l3 D is insulated from the circuit and from the ground by pieces oi wood E and F, coated with tar or other suitable material. On the upper surface of the insulatonboard E are arranged three metallic plates,XYZ, which, with the insulators E and F and the horizontal portion l? ofthe bracket, are secured together by bolts x g/ z passing through them. The three plates X Y Z are each independent of the other; but by medium of the bolty the plate Y is connected with the left-hand wire y, and by the bolt z the plate Z is connected with the righthand wire e. The valve-shaped plug K, then, being seated between the plates Y and Z in a conical seat, forms the connection or continuity of the main line. A ground-wire connects with the plate X through the bolt Je; but this is inoperative, or forms no connection with the,

electriccircuitwithouttheportableinstrument,\ which is the subject of another application. i,

The upper surface of the heads fr g/ z are made concave, to receive the feet of the portable instrument, through which the connection is Y made, with the line to the right and left, and by screwing the connecting-plug K into the base of said portable instrument to break the connection between the plates Y Z, the circuit may be continued through the key to both sides, or, by the position of the pin in the instrument, either side may be placed in connection with the ground, and thus the circuit will be formed in one direction only, as desired, and on unscrewin g and removing the portable instrument the plug K is drawn down by the spring A into contact with the plates Y and Z, to re-establish the circuit on the through line, thus saving the time and trouble of cutting and reconnecting the established line.

lt will be obvious that any telegraphing-instrument may be used in connection with this device by simply making connection with any two of the plates X Y Z to establish a circuit in the desired direction, as before described, the plug K being raised if communication in one direction only is desired, in which case connection must be made with the groundwire X to complete the circuit.

On account ofthe necessity of securing perfeet contact between the knobs o11 feet of the The combination of the plates X Y Z, the instrument und the bolts y z of the commubolts y e, and plug K with the telegraphtator, I construct said bolts with the cupped Wires y and z, and with :L ground-Wire, or eoueave heads, in which :t few drops ot' wie for operation as set forth.

ter may be a n )lied in ense of oxidation of said T .s 7

heads, throulgdl which medium it perfect cur- MmQUIS X' HAM DE FORVILLE' rent is secured. Witnesses:

lYhat is here claimed, and desired to be se- PETER QUOSIG, Cured by Letters Patent, is- CONSTANTINE DE BODISCO. 

